Evaluate Powers of Fractions and Decimals

Remind students that the exponent applies to the whole fraction in parentheses. Have them predict whether a decimal power will be bigger or smaller than the base.

Evaluate 8 expressions like (4/3) squared × 2/3 and 1.5 cubed ÷ 0.5 by finding the power first. The directions on the page read: Find each value in simplest form. Write improper fractions as mixed numbers. Use the space under each one for your work. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 6th Grade exponents, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with powers of fractions and decimals. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.

Square the numerator and the denominator, so 3/5 squared = 9/25. Write improper results as mixed numbers, so 3/2 cubed = 27/8 = 3 3/8.

A decimal less than 1 times itself is smaller than the decimal, so 0.3 squared = 0.09. A decimal greater than 1 gets bigger, like 1.5 squared = 2.25.

Multiply the decimal places by the exponent. 0.2 cubed has 3 × 1 = 3 decimal places, so it is 0.008.